Parachute apparatus



Oct. 16, 1923. r1,470,610

H. E. s. HoLT PARACHUTE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 1 6 1923. 1,470,610

H. E. S. HOLT 'PARACHUTE APPARATUS Filed Fe b. 9, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 2- Oct. 16 1923. 1,470,610

H. E. s. HoLT PAHAGHUTE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1921 7 Sh-ts-Sheet 3 mi.' 1a, 1923. y 1,470,610

H; E.y Sl: HOLT Eledi E'eh., 9:, 1.9121 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 waa/4%@ ff e www oct. 16, 1923.

H. E. s. HoL" PARACHU'TE APPARATUS .Fi/legi Feb. 9, 1921 'r sheetssneet 5 Oct. 16 1923.

H. E. S. HOLT PARACHUTE APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Feb. 9, 1921 Fgfl 213917.

'Patented Oct. is, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD EDWARD sHERWrN Hour.' or FAnNBoRoUGH, ENGLAND.

'rAncrrUrn APPARATUS.

lApplication led February 9, 1921. Serial No. 443,586.l

' (GBNTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS 0F THE ACT O MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

To all 'wko/m, Macy concern."

Beit known that I, HAROLDEDWARD SHER- WINHOLT, a subjectof the King of Great Britain, of the Grange, Farnborough, Hampshire, England., have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Parachute Apparatus (foi-.which I have filed application for patent inGreat-Britain, #703, dated January 8, 1920.), of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to parachute appay'ratus for enabling personsto descend 'with safety from aircraft and 1s an improvement p in or modification of the invention described inthe complete specification accompanying my application for Patent 16,855 of 1918 wherein pilotand main parachutes are packed i'n a launching case capable-of being attached to the person to be loweredand the Withdrawal ofthe'main parachute from its case is affected by the pull of the pilot para-` chute at any desired interval .after the launching of7 the parachute apparatus. by means under.- manual or automatic control.

The present improvements are directed to Ithe provision of means whereby the parachutes can .be 'carried -on the person with greater convenience and comfort than `heretofore,` the provision of increased facilities for'their-release together with more reliable control thereof, and generallyv to the perfectingy and practical application of various devices for ensuring safety'and reducing the riska'ttendant upon Vaerial navigation, by

' making possible asafe descent to earth in the event of 'accident to the aircraft;

My-present improvements comprise `a novelarrangement and construction of pockets or-cases for receivingthe main parachute and one 'or more pilot parachutesprovided on ay garment intended-to be worn by the aeronaut. either over orv combined with a suitable harness to which the parachute cords lare attached, the pockets or'cases being constituted in part by flaps equipped with fastening means "capable of being quickly released. My invention further comprises a timing device provided on the garment for controlling the release of the pilot or main parachute also holding and releasin release of the parachute.

devicesas hereinafter described .all-

inten ed to ensure effective. control over the chutes are taken through openings 1n the front view showing an aviator wearing the harness and lts a J garment 1s put on.

Fig. '2 is a side view showin in position the outer garment. equipped wlth the. para-v 554 unc-ts before the outer are enlarged detail views of Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views illustrating in section and elevation respectively a withdrawable locking pin forming part of the fasteningmeans.l f f Figli) is a detail view of a release mechanism carriedin a shoulder strap of the harnessand capable of being manually coritrolled.

'- Figlll .is an elevation of a delay mechanism for controlling the release` of a pilot parachute.

Fig. 12 'is a plan of the same partly in section. t A Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line 13-713 Fig. 12. c

. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of an emergency release mechanism.

Fig. 15 illustrates an alternative form of fastening for the iap of the pilot parachute x pocket.

Figs. l16 and 17 are sectional elevations atright angles illustrating a slightly modified arrangement of .the timing mechanism.

ing cord a.- of the main parachute is connected'with awaist belt b Vformi g part ofa suitablev harness also including shoulder straps c and in certain cases thigh straps d. Acoat e 1s worn over the harness and 1s skirt and passing round the. legs or it may be combined with trouser-like extensions inshoulders of the coat andinclude inaddi- 50 end loop tion to the cord a a mechanism mounted on one of vthe shoulder straps of the harness and enabling the release of the main para" Y chute to be manually controlled when desired as described in my previous specifica-l tions referred to. For this purpose the cords a and a2 connecting the top of the main parachute with the pilot parachute which withdraws the main parachute from its pocket are bothv attached to a ring f 'capable of being detachably secured to the harness by a plvoted coupling pin g' Figs.`

2 and 10 mounted to turn in a lug or bracket and held in the coupling position when desired by a manually. controlled catch adjacent to a fixed grip piece h on a plate fixed to the shoulder strap. A spring h2 -coiled on the rod g3 tends to move the catchy g2 into the release position so that in order to prevent the release and withdrawal of the main parachute, the aviator has to maintain a grip on the lever it. A spring clip i normally holds the coupling lever closed but permits it to Hy open under the pull of the pilot parachute if the catch g2 isnot in engagement with the said lever.

srcl'early shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a pocket or case j for holding the main parachute k is formed and forms part. of the 2 back of the coat e the outer side of the pocket consisting of a flap j; secured by a fastening composed of loops jt attached to the coat and passed through eyelets in the `f lap adjacent loops being engaged with each other in a known manner to permit of the 4-0 Hap being instantly pulled open when the end loop 1s released.

Any other form of fastening may be employed however which will permit of the flap j being quickly pulled or ripped open to allow of-.free egress for the main para-` chute. j

As clearly shwn in 6 to 9 the end loop of the fastening j2 of theflap j is se- Vcured by a pin js arranged to engage the which is inserted in a metal fitting j* attached to the coat adjacent to the: corner of the pocket. The pin js is pulled out of the engagement either by a timing gear or by thej pull of the pilot parachute,

and in order that the pin maybe operated by a pull in any direction, it is connected by a spherlcal head with a disc j working in a cylindrical guide on the fitting j", said disc bearing agalnst al partition js in the guide o and by tilting acting as a lever shouldv its operating cord or the like be ulling at any angle to the axis of the pin. Iiii theexample illustrated a cord j? is arranged to transmit the pull of the pilot parachute to the pin 7'3 05 for releasing same, or alternatively the timspring could be arranged in the pocket to eject the main parachute in a known manner. At. the top the pocket j is closed by a cover flap j which is `loosely folded in and offers no obstruction-to the opening of the Hap j. On the duter face ofthe main parachute pocketthat is to say on the fiap j a pocket Z is formed for receiving a pilot par-` achute or parachutes the ends'of this pocket being folded inwards as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 5. As shown there are two pilot parachutes, lone indicated at m 'made of Vthin silk and as light as possible so as to readily open and another m.

mensions than the first with a view Ato re.- tarding the descent of the load to some extent until such time as the main parachute is pulled out and opens and also preventing too great a shock on the main parachute asit takes the pull of the load. Y

A closing flap Z is arranged to fold over the'pocket l for the pilotparachutes and forms a continuation of' the back of the pocket being sewn to` the coat below the level of the mouthof the pocket so that in springing open the inner part of the flap tends vto move towards the front of the` pocket and assists in ejecting the pilot paramade of stronger or heavler fabric and of larger d1- chute, the ap is made of either fiexible or rigid material and has flat springsor elastic bands Z2 arranged to draw it back ais soon as it is released. In order toensureits instant and unimpeded release upon they opening of the flap the-first pilot parachute m is4 preferably packed between the front of the pocket and the ilap.

As illustrated in Figsw to 5 the flap Z i is' fastened to an apertured lug n bv a withdrawable pin n connected by a Bowden wire kmechanism with a timing device o shown on.a larger scale `in Figs. 11 to 13 capable of being set to release the pilot parachute after any predetermined interval. A description of the timing mechanism which embodies novel features of construction intended to ensure accuracy and reliability may be given here. The said mechanism comprises a suitable frame within which isA mounted a. spring-driven timing disc .0 a double acting balanced esca-pement "o2 geared with andl controlling the rate of unwinding 0f the s ring, and a member operatively connecte with the flap fastening and held against the periphery of the timing disc overwhich it can -be 'ca-used to travel through an arc of variable length before enteringI a `notch therein to effect at one endwit 'the release of the fastening. V,As shown there springs 0s each connected' a' fixed spindle 0* and at the other end with a winding spindle 05,'

are two drivin ,having a winding-head 0". VThe timing disc 0 is mounted on and rotates with the. windingspindle in both directions, owing to the doublejacting escapement 02 permitting of rotation in either direction as. will be readily understood. The escapem'ent may be balanced either by a weight 0 7 as shown or by a spring, and its wheel is geared to the spindle 05 by a pinion 0 and toothed wheel 01. For setting the timing mechanisml the head 0 of the winding spindle moves over a suitable index outside the casing; After being set the spindle is held against'rotation by locking the escapement with the aid of a pin ja of the kind previously describedengaging a projection on thefescapementA weight'and attached by a breaking cord p to some part of the aircraft so lthat'the pin is withdrawn automatically vwhen the aviator' leaves the. aircraft allowing the timing mechanism to come into action, alternatively a weight may be employed to pull out the pin js. The timing mechanismV works freely and needs no lubrication.

As shown inFigs. 12 and 13 aber g is mounted to slide in guides g on one of the frame plates of the timing device being forced in one direction by 'a spring 7n One end of the bar is connected by a Bowden wire mechanism s 'with the pin n" for releasing f the ilap Z,'wh'ilst its other end has a protion) on the bar ydescribed and a lever t having a small roller jection that is caused by the' action of the spring r to bear against the periphery 0 the timing Vdisc. y,

The release takes place when the projeccomes opposite a notch formed in the perlphery of the timing disc, allowing the bar to slide a suiicient distance to operate the Bowden wire mechanism. S Fig. 14 illustrates an arrangement for cutting out the timing gear. 1n this case the bar g instead or bearing directly against the periphery of the timing dise 0 is operatively connected with the disc through a withdrawable pin jaof the kind previously running on the disc. Bywithdrawing thepin ja the bar can operate to release the Hap iirrespective of lthe position of the timing Fig; 15 illustrates an arrangement in which the bar g of the timing device is brought into direct engagement with a fastening catch u on the fiap'l. Illhe catch u is mounted in av ide sleeve u and retracted by a spring u2 ut can be pressed b hand into a socket us on the framing of t e timing device, the bolt andsocket having corresponding hook portions a5, u", which are adapted to be held in engagement bythe end of the bar gl'recessedas shown toreceive the end'of thepho'ok. When however, the bar g slides away from the "catch owing Ato the operation of the timing disc asd'e:N

and releases thel flap. 'l In the modified form' of construction illusscribed 4the catch'is retracted by itsspringv trated in Figs. 16 and 17, a notched timing l disc 0 co-operates with a lever lv pivoted on a withdrawable plug 'v'4 and' adaptedto be held in engagement with the catch 'w on the flap lV bythe Vtiming disc. The lever v carries a small roller 'v2 which runs on the eriphery of thel discand enters a curved noto lva in the disc to'enable the lever to turn on its pivot under the action' of a spring fw and thus release the fastening' catch u of the iiap l. By withdrawing or partly withdravci/'ngthe plug e by pulling on a cord 'atta ed to it, thel catch can be released in an emergency independently of the timing gear. `If it is not desired toention ofthe plug, is reduced in diameter to such an extent -that artial withdrawal of the same leaves suicientplay in the, pivot eye of the lever to allow of the release of Ytirely withdraw the plugl 'v' the end por- `the catch'. As shown "the plug is guided 1n a sleeve or bars 'u4 formed on side of a guide casing lv5 enclosing the lever and may be split longitudnall-yto prevent play. 'A setting handle 'fu6 on the lever e projects through aslotin front of the timing devlce.

In order to prevent the premature withcannot be withdrawn to releasethe pilot' 4 parachute until the parachute apparatus has fallen clear 'of the aircraft.

l. A garment'having a receptacle, a main parachute in said receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, said cover also having a 'receptacle, a pilot parachute inthe receptacle of the cover, a cord connecting the parachutes together, means to secure and release said cord, a cover for the pilot parachute receptacle, fastening means for the cover ofthe rst named receptacle, means to Irelease said fastening means, fastening means lfor the cover of the pilot parachute receptacle, ,and means to release the last named fastening means.

2. A garment having a receptacle, a main parachute Vin said receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, said cover also having a receptacle, a pilot parachute in the receptacle of the cover, a cord connecting the parachutes -drawal of the emergency plug e" it is .pref- 30 be Worn by an'aviator and including paratogether, means to secure and release said cord, a cover for the pilot parachute receptacle, fastening means for the cover of the first named receptacle, means operated by the' pilot parachute to release said fastening means, fastening means for the cover of the pilot parachute receptacle, and meansv to rev lease the last named fastening means;

of thecover', and fastening means for saidcover. f

3. An article to be Worn by an aviator and having a receptacle, a main parachute in Saidy receptacle, a Asecond receptacle, -a pilot parachute in the second receptacle, a cord connecting the .parachutes together, means to secure and release said cord, and means to normally hold 'said securing and releasing means in released condition.

4. A garment havinga receptacle, a main parachute in said receptacle, a coverI for said receptacle, said cover also having fareceptacle, a pilot parachute in the receptacle 5. A garment having a receptacle,l a main parachute in said receptacle, a c'over for said receptacle, said cover also having a receptacle, a pilot parachute in the receptacle of the cover, fastening means for-said cover, and timing gear controlled means to release said fastening means.

6. Parachute holding means arranged to chute releasing means, a pin to secure said releasing means, and operating means 1ncludiiig a timing-gear," for said pin.

7. Parachute holding means arranged to be Worn by an aviator and including parav chute releasing means, a pin to secure said 'releasing means,l and operating means includingl a timing gear, for said'pin, said timinggear including a spring driven timing disk, an escapement enabling said disk to rotate in either direction, and a stop capable of being operated to release the timing gear when the parachute is launched.

8. A garment having a receptacle, a main parachute in said ieceptacle, a cover 'for Said receptacle, said cover also having a receptacle, a pilot parachute in the receptacle or the cover, fastening means for said cover, timing gear controlled means lto release said fastening means and means for cutting out the timing gear.

9. A garment having a receptacle,ai'nainL timing gear including a spring driven timing disk, an escapeinent Ienabling said disk to rotate in either direction, a stop capable of being operated to release tlie timing gear when the parachute is launched, means for cutting out the timing gear including an emergency pin and an operating cord therefor, and means for interlocking theemergency pin with the stop of the tiinin gear to prevent the pin from being operate until the stop has been moved t0 release position.

In testimony whereof he has aflixed hisY signature. l 1

' HAROLD EDWARD SHERWIN HOLT. 

